A NooB's plea for help

  • Thread starter Thread starter mge80
  • Start date Start date
M

mge80

New member
So, I know this is basic stuff and the info probably exists in various places on this forum...but I thought I would throw this out there.

I am brand new to home recording. I have a very nice, fast, powerful desktop computer with lots of HD space...Pentium 4-3GHz, 1G RAM, 2 120G hard drives, etc...(as well as a desktop replacement type laptop, but I plan to use the desktop in this situation). However, it just has a fairly basic soundcard (Sound Blaster Audigy 2, I believe it is) with it's limited input capability. I also will only be recording myself. No band or anything. I play the bass and guitar and will use either a drum track or patches for that. I would pretty much do one track at a time, put another on top of that, then another on those two...and so on. Something like that. At least that is how I envision it now, but after some education, I might have a whole different outlook and plan.

My question is, if you were starting from scratch, with limited experience and even more limited knowledge...what type of equipment would you get? What type of setup? Any and all recommendations and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Should I upgrade the sound card, and if so what are some recommendations? I have looked at devices like the Presonus Firebox, but am not sure if this is the type of hardware I need. Again, just seeking advice.

Again, I know this is very basic noob stuff, and there is much research I have ahead of me, but I wanted to solicit the advice of those more knowledgeable and experienced than myself. I also know it is easy to flame the new guys (I do it myself on the aviation forums...I am an airline pilot and instructor pilot by trade), so I am prepared if you'd like to go down that trail. Hopefully though that in between I might be able to get some opinions, advice and suggestions/recommendations on which way to go and with what equipment.

My goals are not real lofty. I will just be recording myself and mainly for my own consumption and enjoyment. I would however, like it to sound as good as I can make it, while keeping to a budget commensurate with my level of expertise and keeping in mind the fact that it really is just for me. So maybe another way of putting it is I am looking for "bang for the buck". I have a decent budget....not extravagant, but reasonable. I am not looking to create a real "professional studio" or anything like that, I would just like a good quality set-up that I can be happy with for some time to come and that will yield good results.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read, and in advance for whatever input you can contribute.

mge
 
Last edited:
M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard $99 + M-Audio AudioBuddy Preamp $99

or

M-Audio Firewire Audiophile $169 (if both your systems already have Firewire) + Audiobuddy Preamp


What software do you plan on using?
 
Thanks for the suggestions. As far as software goes, I already have Pro Tracks Plus that came with my GNX4 and have recorded a little bit using this unit. However, I think I would prefer a setup that will allow me to record the amps without the digital processor and/or modeling, but have been looking at others such as Sound Forge 8.0 Recommendations on software are also welcomed.

Also, with regards to the two products mentioned above...the M-Audio 2496 Audiophile sound card vs. the M-Audio Firewire Audiophile, what would be the advantages of one over the other? FWIW, all my computers are firewire capable.

Thanks again. :cool:
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the link (it just so happens that book was already in my cart at Amazon, along with the other one listed as "Buy Together" on that page.... :) ).

However, I also wanted to tap the experts here on this site for people's opinions and recommendations on specific components. Again, I'm not looking for a professional studio, just some ideas on upgrading what I have and some opinions on specific gear.

I plan on doing additional research on how to go about accomplishing what I am trying to do. But you can never have too many ideas, opinions, suggestions and recommendations. :cool:
 
mge80 said:
I have a decent budget....not extravagant, but reasonable.... I would just like a good quality set-up that I can be happy with for some time to come and that will yield good results.
Click to expand...

It might be helpful if you could quantify "not extravagant" and "reasonable." Are you talking about under $500, $500-$1,000, or 1k plus?

If I had to begin again, I would invest heavily in a high quality AD (analog-to-digital) converter and a soundcard that allowed the AD converter to work without throwing to much crap in the way. If I knew that I was only going to record myself, I would get a good 2 channel converter--probably either a Mytek or a Lucid. I would also buy a seperate preamp starting with something like the RNP or the M-Audio DMP3. If I had more money to burn, I would look at the single channel Grace mic preand then the Great River Me1nv.

You can't overestimate the importance of AD conversion and--if you want your setup to deliver quality and last--you probably need to invest in this up front.
 
dwillis,

Thanks for the input. I suppose I'm talking less than $1k, but could spend up to that without too much heartburn. However, if it were required to go somewhat over that even, in order to get something of quality that would last a while, then I may even be able to talk myself into it. Like anything else, I could easily see myself going crazy and have to keep in mind that this is just for my own enjoyment and would not need to be too terribly extravagant.

Thanks again for taking the time to give me your advice. It is appreciated.
 
mge80 said:
dwillis,

Thanks for the input. I suppose I'm talking less than $1k, but could spend up to that without too much heartburn. However, if it were required to go somewhat over that even, in order to get something of quality that would last a while, then I may even be able to talk myself into it.
Click to expand...

There is a lot out there in the under 1k range, including the following:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/cat--Audio-Interfaces--2418

You probably need to narrow the field by choosing either a soundcard or a stand-alone interface (firewire or USB). As I said above, if I were to begin again, I'de start with a soundcard and add a separate preamp and high quality converter. That may not be possible with your budget unless you want to spend just over 1k. Again, as I said above, you might try a Lucid 9624 converter ($850) along with either an M-Audio DMP3 ($150-$175) or FMR RNP ($475) preamp. Then add $100-200 for a basic soundcard like one of the M-Audio cards mentioned above. You would also need cables. This gets you a high quality converter and a decent preamp that should last a while and deliver quality results.

You could go with one of the all-in-one firewire boxes (MOTU 828, Presonus Firepod, M-Audio, etc.) for less than 1k. They would give you everything you need including a built-in converter and preamp. The downside is that separate components (like the ones listed above) are likely to give you more choice and better sonic results.
 
dwillis,

Thanks again. That's some really good info and more than likely will be the direction I go, although an all-in-one type device like the Firepod has its appeal . I appreciate the detailed advice and the reasoning behind it.

I would also like to say to everyone who has responded so far that I appreciate you taking the time to offer your thoughts without making me feel like the novice that I am.

I welcome any and all opinions and advice and really am still in the basic research stage. I want to try and educate myself to a certain point before I move forward so that I am more likely to make good decisions now instead of realizing at a later date that something else would have been more appropriate and worked out better.
 
Do you need mics? Monitors? A soundcard and application are only parts of the whole thing.
 
Agreed. And yes, I will at least need mics. As far as monitoring, I was thinking of going with headphones for that. Not sure if this is the best solution there, but since I will only be doing one track at a time (except for the drum track in the background) with each one done over the top of the previous one(s), I thought headphones would work ok.
 
mge80 said:
As far as monitoring, I was thinking of going with headphones for that. Not sure if this is the best solution there, but since I will only be doing one track at a time (except for the drum track in the background) with each one done over the top of the previous one(s), I thought headphones would work ok.
Click to expand...

Headphones will work for tracking but you will need monitors for mixing properly.

http://www.bluebearsound.com/articles/headphones.htm
 
Thanks for the advice and link about monitors vs. headphones. Obviously, I have a lot to learn and I appreciate everyone's opinions and suggesstions.

I definitely will do considerable research before jumping into this. I want to try and do it right from the start instead of a lot of trial and error. Everyone's input will help me to do this. Thanks again. :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top